Cal Poly vs UC Santa Cruz

Compare two rival schools - California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of California-Santa Cruz with tuition and admission information where Cal Poly is a four-years, public located in San Luis Obispo, CA and UC Santa Cruz is a four-years, public located in Santa Cruz, CA.
The next list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare two colleges with comprehensive information on the full comparison page.
  • Both schools are four-years, public schools.
  • UC Santa Cruz has more expensive tuition & fees ($45,337) than Cal Poly ($30,995).
  • It is harder to admit to Cal Poly than UC Santa Cruz.
  • Cal Poly has more students with 22,000 students while UC Santa Cruz has 19,478 students.
  • Cal Poly has a lower number of students per faculty with 20 to 1 while UC Santa Cruz's ratio is 23 to 1.
  • Cal Poly has more full-time faculties with 881 faculties while UC Santa Cruz has 688 full-time faculties.
The following table compares the two rival schools - California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and University of California-Santa Cruz.
Cal Polyvs.UC Santa Cruz
San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaLocationSanta Cruz, California
Four-years, PublicSchool Typefour-years, Public
Master's degreeHighest Degree OfferedDoctor's degree
Master's College and University (larger programs)Carnegie ClassificationResearch University (very high research activity)
In-State$11,075
Out-Of-State$30,995
2024 Tuition & Fees
In-State$14,560
Out-Of-State$45,337
50%% Receiving Financial Aid65%
$7,853Average Amount of Financial Aid$20,896
30.43 %Acceptance Rates46.92 %
28.57 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)12.48 %
-SAT Score-
-ACT Score-
85 %Graduation Rate76 %
1 %Transfer-out Rate5 %
94 %Retention Rate88 %
22,000Student Population19,478
881Number of Faculties688
20 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio23 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), Study Abroad, Teacher Certification
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services, On-campus daycareOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement services, On-campus daycare